Five face two years for robbery

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked West Jakarta District Court yesterday to sentence five men to two years in jail each for their alleged involvement in the theft of 37 sewing machines from a garment factory.

Prosecutor Azwar said the five defendants -- Daeng Irwan, 37, Hengki Irawan, 20, Simon A. Jaya, 24, Tumiran, 32, and Chairul, 36, -- along with two accomplices who are still at large, stole the goods from PT Sapta Putra Angkasa's factory in Kebon Jeruk on Oct. 27 last year.

"The defendants broke into the factory at night and threatened the company's employees with sickles, before tying their hands with cables and putting cellophane tape over their mouths," Azwar said.

He said the gang of robbers then loaded the machines into a rented truck.

The machines were sold to a buyer for Rp 23 million and the money was divided among them, he said. (jun)